Dedicated Track Tires

Nikon FM · 11-02-2009, 10:37 PM

Any suggestions on what a good track tire would be for a technical high speed course (Pacific Raceways)? I'll be running with the OEM wheels (getting a second set).

The plan will be to do the exchange wheels/tires/brake pads the night before and then drive ~20 minutes to the track. So far the Nitto NT05 looks reasonable but additional input is definitely welcome.

Thanks

ChrisSlicks · 11-02-2009, 11:02 PM

In 19" sizes I think you're choices are limited to:

Nitto NT05
NT01 (stickier tire with some rain grooving).
Bridgestone RE-11

import111 · 11-02-2009, 11:07 PM

Do you want to stick with street tires or are you looking for R-comps?

JoeD · 11-03-2009, 01:51 AM

Why are you looking at the NT05 for a "dedicated track tire?" They are great, but merely R-compound street/track tires. They (along with Toyo's RA-1...nearly identical tire except for tread-pattern) would be good if you only had one set of wheels to drive on for both the street and track. I would recommend those along with Michelin Pilot Sport Cups.

For a track-tire, the Hoosier R6 is your best bet (and you can still legally drive on the road, although you run the risk of tire-damage). If you want to step it up to actual racing-slicks, then your options are wide open beyond that. I used Goodyear G19 for two seasons until switching to Michelin Pilot Racing Slicks.

import111 · 11-03-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeD

Why are you looking at the NT05 for a "dedicated track tire?" They are great, but merely R-compound street/track tires.

NT-05's are not R-comps at all actually. NT-01's are Nitto's R-comp.

Z1Performance · 11-03-2009, 08:54 AM

I've been using the Toyo R888 for awhile now, and absolutely love them. They actually will take some street use too if you treat them reasonably. The Hoosiers are fantastic for strictly track use, we use them on one of our BMW ITS cars

ChrisSlicks · 11-03-2009, 09:39 AM

Forgot about the R888's, those are great tires.

He listed his requirements as being able to drive 20 miles to the track so presumably he wants to be able to drive in wet sessions with the tires as well, so no full r-comps.

JoeD · 11-03-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by import111

NT-05's are not R-comps at all actually. NT-01's are Nitto's R-comp.

Oops, yeah...that's what I meant. I thought he was refering the NT-01. In that case, running an NT05 as your "track-tire" makes even less sense.

Nikon FM · 11-03-2009, 08:55 PM

Thanks for the inputs!

The idea is to have good "sticky track" tires that are legal on the street. I have about a 20 minute drive to Pacific Raceways and would like to get the car ready to go the night before and then just drive to the track ready to go the next morning.

A friend of mine drives/tracks a 911, a modified C6 Vette and a GT40. He has also recommended the R888s. With the recommendations here and his I think the R888 is a win......hopefully they will work with the OEM wheels ( I'm getting a second set just to mount the other tires on).

Thanks again

ChrisSlicks · 11-03-2009, 09:12 PM

The sizes are a little bit off size wise, but not bad considering this is a track tire. You'll need to run:

Front: 265/30ZR19
Rear: 295/30ZR19

Myself I'll be running Nitto NT01's on 18" wheels next year purely because I got a deal on a lightly used set.

Nikon FM · 11-03-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

The sizes are a little bit off size wise, but not bad considering this is a track tire. You'll need to run:

Front: 265/30ZR19
Rear: 295/30ZR19

Myself I'll be running Nitto NT01's on 18" wheels next year purely because I got a deal on a lightly used set.

Any rubbing with those sizes?

ChrisSlicks · 11-03-2009, 09:28 PM

Not at all.

I currently run 275/35 front and 305/30 rear on the stock wheels. There is an unbelievable amount of room remaining around the wheel. The tightest point is the inside of the front wheel against the vertical control arm piece when you push a lot of negative camber. This can be corrected by running a different offset wheel or by using a small spacer. I run -2.5 front camber using the SPC upper control arms and there is a monster gap between the outside edge of the front wheel and the fender.

Nikon FM · 11-03-2009, 09:37 PM

^ +1 good info. Thanks!

ChrisSlicks · 11-03-2009, 10:07 PM

No problem, good luck at the track!

Nikon FM · 11-04-2009, 09:25 PM

How does the traction control system like the 265/295 ratio? I am at the point where I'm going to turn the "baby sitter" off during track days, but have heard some cars have difficulty with different ratios than the OEM setup.

11-02-2009, 10:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nikon FM Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snoqualmie WA Posts: 973 Drives: 03 996TT Porsche Rep Power: 606	Dedicated Track Tires Any suggestions on what a good track tire would be for a technical high speed course (Pacific Raceways)? I'll be running with the OEM wheels (getting a second set). The plan will be to do the exchange wheels/tires/brake pads the night before and then drive ~20 minutes to the track. So far the Nitto NT05 looks reasonable but additional input is definitely welcome. Thanks __________________ Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

11-03-2009, 08:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nikon FM Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snoqualmie WA Posts: 973 Drives: 03 996TT Porsche Rep Power: 606	Thanks for the inputs! The idea is to have good "sticky track" tires that are legal on the street. I have about a 20 minute drive to Pacific Raceways and would like to get the car ready to go the night before and then just drive to the track ready to go the next morning. A friend of mine drives/tracks a 911, a modified C6 Vette and a GT40. He has also recommended the R888s. With the recommendations here and his I think the R888 is a win......hopefully they will work with the OEM wheels ( I'm getting a second set just to mount the other tires on). Thanks again __________________ Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later" Last edited by Nikon FM; 11-03-2009 at 08:59 PM.

11-03-2009, 09:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nikon FM Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snoqualmie WA Posts: 973 Drives: 03 996TT Porsche Rep Power: 606	^ +1 good info. Thanks! __________________ Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

11-04-2009, 09:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
Nikon FM Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snoqualmie WA Posts: 973 Drives: 03 996TT Porsche Rep Power: 606	How does the traction control system like the 265/295 ratio? I am at the point where I'm going to turn the "baby sitter" off during track days, but have heard some cars have difficulty with different ratios than the OEM setup. __________________ Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

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11-02-2009, 11:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	In 19" sizes I think you're choices are limited to: Nitto NT05 NT01 (stickier tire with some rain grooving). Bridgestone RE-11

11-02-2009, 11:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	Do you want to stick with street tires or are you looking for R-comps?

11-03-2009, 01:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
JoeD Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: CA Posts: 495 Drives: Z Rep Power: 0	Why are you looking at the NT05 for a "dedicated track tire?" They are great, but merely R-compound street/track tires. They (along with Toyo's RA-1...nearly identical tire except for tread-pattern) would be good if you only had one set of wheels to drive on for both the street and track. I would recommend those along with Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. For a track-tire, the Hoosier R6 is your best bet (and you can still legally drive on the road, although you run the risk of tire-damage). If you want to step it up to actual racing-slicks, then your options are wide open beyond that. I used Goodyear G19 for two seasons until switching to Michelin Pilot Racing Slicks.

11-03-2009, 08:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Z1Performance Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. James, NY Posts: 237 Drives: 350Z Rep Power: 16	I've been using the Toyo R888 for awhile now, and absolutely love them. They actually will take some street use too if you treat them reasonably. The Hoosiers are fantastic for strictly track use, we use them on one of our BMW ITS cars

11-03-2009, 09:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Forgot about the R888's, those are great tires. He listed his requirements as being able to drive 20 miles to the track so presumably he wants to be able to drive in wet sessions with the tires as well, so no full r-comps.

11-03-2009, 09:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	The sizes are a little bit off size wise, but not bad considering this is a track tire. You'll need to run: Front: 265/30ZR19 Rear: 295/30ZR19 Myself I'll be running Nitto NT01's on 18" wheels next year purely because I got a deal on a lightly used set.

11-03-2009, 09:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Not at all. I currently run 275/35 front and 305/30 rear on the stock wheels. There is an unbelievable amount of room remaining around the wheel. The tightest point is the inside of the front wheel against the vertical control arm piece when you push a lot of negative camber. This can be corrected by running a different offset wheel or by using a small spacer. I run -2.5 front camber using the SPC upper control arms and there is a monster gap between the outside edge of the front wheel and the fender.

11-03-2009, 10:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	No problem, good luck at the track!